Woman killed by shark at Brazilian beach

An 18-year-old woman who was attacked by a shark at a beach in the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife died from the serious injuries she received, authorities said Tuesday.

Bruna Silva Gobbi died in the hospital where she had been admitted in serious condition, although before her death doctors had amputated her left leg, which was almost torn off by the shark.

"She arrived at the hospital in very serious condition, with very serious and extensive injuries and it was very difficult to stop the loss of blood," surgeon Maria Claudia Albuquerque, the head of the medical team that tried to save Gobbi's life, said.

The attack occurred at Boa Viagem beach, in central Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state, which is the Brazilian coastal region with the greatest presence of sharks.

According to official statistics, 59 shark attacks have been registered at Pernambuco beaches since 1992 and 23 of them occurred at Boa Viagem.

In those 59 incidents, 24 people lost their lives, including Gobbi, who lived in Sao Paulo and was in Recife for several days of vacation. EFE